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- 1 Over 3 Billion users are using at least one of Meta’s platforms.
- 2 The company’s family of apps brings a majority of revenue to the company.
Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook), an American multinational technology conglomerate that began exploring metaverse in 2021, now faces allegations that they failed to act to protect the teens from the harmful effects of its platforms, news website CNBC reported. A whistleblower has stepped forward to share the details.
Allegations Surrounding the Meta Platforms
According to CNBC, former Facebook engineering director, Arturo Bejar, testified regarding the matter before a Senate subcommittee. The company officials could have done more to mitigate exposure to the harm by its youngest users. The article reads, “Bejar’s appearance shows the frustration among lawmakers who believe large tech companies operate with largely unchecked power.”
Bejar revealed in a Wall Street Journal interview that the top executives knew about the harm the company platforms could have on the teens, but still declined not to act upon it. According to Subcommittee Chair Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., the whistleblower recounted him with a meeting with Chris Cox, Meta’s chief product officer.
In 2021, Bejar provided the details of an Instagram survey he conducted to the platform’s CEO. His study on users aged between 13-15 years old reveals 13 percent of them had exposure to unwanted sexual advances, and nearly 20 percent had a hard time after they compared themselves to others on the network. Even his daughter received adult content from users whom she eventually blocked.
The company has registered complaints from users exploring their metaverse experience Horizon Worlds. A beta tester posted her experience revealing that she has been groped virtually in the metaverse. The company’s internal review concluded that she should have used a tool called “Safe Zone” which prevents users from entering within a specific range of other users.
Since their rebranding in 2021, the social media giant has been rigorously working on metaverse experiences. However, their focus temporarily shifted to artificial intelligence (AI) after leaking billions of dollars through Reality Labs, their metaverse research arm. The company has bled nearly $25 Billion to virtual worlds since 2021.
In 2010, the company got involved in a data scandal with Cambridge Analytica, a British political consulting firm. The tech giant provided data of some 90 Million Facebook profiles which was eventually used in campaigns of former US President Donald Trump and Texas Senator Ted Cruz.
On their official website, Meta explains how they are “building a responsible metaverse.” However, incidents like these would become a huge barrier to their success. Their family of apps is still the core product contributing to a majority of their user base and revenue. The testimony from Arturo Bejar may significantly affect Meta’s platforms.
Anurag is working as a fundamental writer for The Coin Republic since 2021. He likes to exercise his curious muscles and research deep into a topic. Though he covers various aspects of the crypto industry, he is quite passionate about the Web3, NFTs, Gaming, and Metaverse, and envisions them as the future of the (digital) economy. A reader & writer at heart, he calls himself an “average guitar player” and a fun footballer.
